Gone are the days when 10mm was considered only good for niche applications or people obsessed with the failed Bren Ten. Today the 10mm is seen for what it is: a versatile cartridge capable of performing well for handgun hunting, self-defense, range use, and more. There are more 10mm handguns on the market than ever, but do you know which ones are the best for your needs? We’ve narrowed it down to our top three of the best 10mm handguns for various uses. After all, 10mm is the best of the “mm’s”, right?
Best Precision 10mm: Sig Sauer P220 Legion
It’s worth mentioning that Sig’s P220 line in general is great, but it’s the P220 Legion that’s fantastically precise (there was also a P220 Hunter, but it’s been discontinued). This handgun is designed as an enhanced version of the other P220 handguns meaning it’s even flatter shooting and more precise than its predecessors. The P220 Legion has a 4.4-inch barrel made from carbon steel. Thanks to its coating, the barrel is extremely resistant to corrosion and delivers great durability. It has an 8+1 capacity, so you might want to carry a spare mag if you’re using this gun for defensive purposes.
The P220 Legion comes with standard X-RAY3 Day/Night Sights that work great, but this is also an optics-ready gun. A removable plate with a DeltaPoint Pro footprint makes it possible to add red dot sights. There’s also a built-in accessory rail in front of the trigger guard so you can add a light/laser combo if you want one. Serrations are placed at the front and back of the slide although the forward serrations are half-height. G10 grips are textured aggressively enough to help you keep a firm grip during shooting sessions but not so excessively that they cut into your hands. All controls are enhanced and checkered for reliable operation. There are two variants of this model offered, one that’s double-action/single-action (DA/SA) and one that’s single-action only (SAO).
This gun has an overall length of 8.8 inches. The width is 1.3 inches for the DA/SA model and 1.5 inches for the SAO model. The height radius for both is 7.7 inches and the empty weight is 44 ounces. While this is a sizeable handgun, it’s not that heavy considering the caliber and it’s full-sized. It’s comfortable to shoot at length and the results on paper are undeniably superior to many—if not most—other 10mms on the market.
Best Concealed Carry 10mm: Glock 29 Gen 4
It might surprise you to see a chunky Glock in this list, but of the compact 10mm handguns currently offered, the Glock 29 remains the best. The Glock 29 Gen 4 retains the double-stack design of the original Glock guns but does offer enhanced features of the fourth generation. This means it has a capacity of 10 +1 with a flush-fit magazine and 15 +1 with an extended magazine. It does have the finger-molded grooves on its grip that didn’t go away until the fifth generation, but that isn’t a real issue unless you truly hate them.
Features of the Glock 29 include upright serrations at the back of the slide for easier manipulation, a Glock accessory rail for lights and lasers, and a safety blade trigger. As with all Glocks, this gun doesn’t have an external thumb safety but does have multiple internal safeties thanks to the company’s Safe Action System. This is a gun you might expect to recoil significantly, but the design and balance make it a surprisingly smooth shooting pistol. Not only is the gun enjoyable to shoot but it’s quite accurate on target. With a well-made holster and sturdy gun belt it’s easy to conceal this gun for carry purposes.
The Glock 29 Gen 4 is a subcompact handgun specifically made for concealed carry and self-defense. It has a 3.78 barrel, an overall length of 6.97 inches, and a height of 4.53 inches. The slide with is 1.12 inches and the overall width is 1.38 inches, which is fine for carry. There are a lot of options for swapping out iron sights and making other aftermarket changes to make the gun more closely suit your preferences.
Best Custom 10mm: Cabot Guns The Thunder From Down Under
Don’t be put off by the name of this gun; Cabot makes some of the highest-quality custom handguns, and they do it with unique components. In this case, it’s the use of Australian black jade that influenced the name of the gun. The Thunder From Down Under is a 1911 that is made with the aforementioned black jade and also forged Damascus. When we say this is a high-quality and high-end 10mm, we mean it.
The Cabot Thunder From Down Under is a match-quality handgun. This is a Government-sized gun which means it has a full-size frame and 5-inch barrel. Because Cabot makes custom guns, this model is simply an example of what they can do and the kind of results they deliver regularly. It has serrations at the back of the Damascus slide to make racking the slide easier and a rounded trigger guard. The beavertail is extended to encourage a high, firm grip. And while the black jade grips are smooth, there is some checkering on the straps. The magazine release is also checkered.
Cabot designs and manufactures 1911s in a variety of calibers, so while this gun’s a 10mm, they’ll do just about anything. The Thunder From Down Under is a great example of custom gun goals we all wish we could reach someday. Other 10mms they’ve done include The Diplomat and the Cabot Safari. Cabot also makes left-handed guns which is nice to see. Their guns have superior fitment with incredibly exacting tolerances. You’re not going to find any wiggle or sharp edges on a Cabot. They’re truly beautifully made guns, so we’d say it’s well worth the price tag.
Should you get a 10mm handgun?
The 10mm is a versatile cartridge that’s capable of doing things the 9mm simply cannot. That doesn’t mean it’s ideal for everyone or perfect for all situations, but it does mean it’s worth having at least one 10mm handgun. If for self-defense, take the time to get used to the penetration of the defensive load you choose. Remember, you’re responsible for every shot fired. For hunting, there’s almost nothing better than 10mm because it’s easier to keep on target than a magnum and offered in a variety of platforms such as striker-fired and 1911s. Whatever you do with your 10mm handgun, we think you’re going to enjoy it and end up just as addicted to this cartridge as we are.
